High precision mold technologies for high performance lenses
For over 60 years since it was founded in 1943, Nittoh Kogaku has remained committed to the development and manufacture of lenses and cameras. We have pursued our own mold technologies for optical lens molding based on the optical technologies we have cultivated over many years. We are able to provide quick development and delivery of high accuracy, high precision molds from prototype to mass production, with a focus on optical lens molds for such products as lenses for the latest digital cameras and lenses for projectors.
Nittoh fulfils your needs, manufacturing a wide range of molds from prototype through to mass production
Nittoh meets a range of needs for everything from prototyping to mass production, centered mainly on the manufacture of molds for plastic lenses and glass aspherical lenses.
Lens prototyping involves either the use of our existing dedicated prototype molds, or the direct machining or grinding of the material to make the lens without manufacturing a prototype mold. Nittoh offers both development methods so that we are able to quickly deliver a product with the method most suited to the customer requirements. In order to minimize the total cost of prototype to mass production, we are also able to manufacture a single cavity for a mass production tool and, after evaluating the trial products, move to manufacture of all cavities to begin mass production.
In addition to manufacturing many mass production molds for molding taking lenses for digital cameras and projecting lenses for projectors, Nittoh is also able to manufacture molds for thick lenses for high-angle lighting systems and sensor systems, and molds for optical mirrors and for prisms. We also have considerable experience manufacturing molds for non-lens products like precision mechanism parts and cosmetic parts.
Being involved from the prototype stage enables us to understand problem areas and share information on how to deal with those problems, which enables a smooth transition to mass production. We recommend you always begin development from prototype, before moving on to mass production.
Precision mold design using the latest CAD/CAM systems
Nittoh’s experienced engineers use both 2-D and 3-D CAD/CAM systems to create optimum designs and NC machining programs. In order to make the best possible molds by incorporating mold manufacturing design considerations from the initial design and development stage, we ensure our mold designers participate in the design reviews and we have established the necessary infrastructure for sharing that development and design data and for data exchange. Our design room is located right next to the plant floor to create an easy environment for collaboration between plant workers and designers, including the ability to check machined parts.
Experience and achievements since foundation
Nittoh’s strengths in mold manufacture undoubtedly come from the experience and achievements we have gained through mass production of many precision optical products, such as lens modules for digital cameras and lens units for projectors, by using lenses and other components we have molded, and using molds we have manufactured ourselves. Our greatest strength for molded lenses in particular is our integrated in-plant system from optical design to mold design, molding and secondary processing.
Advanced mold manufacturing technologies are necessary to stably mass produce high precision molded lenses, with our optical insert machining technologies and polishing technologies being especially important because they link directly to optical performance of the lenses. To maintain and continually improve these manufacturing technologies, we actively promote our traditional technologies at the same time as working on improving our manufacturing technologies. We also apply our years of experience in mass production to the performance evaluation of our molded lenses, and knowing what areas are important we are able to carry out the appropriate evaluations and make the appropriate corrections if necessary.
High precision from prototype to verifications
In addition to measurement of the molded product, measurement and evaluation of mold parts are essential for manufacturing high precision molds. To enable the best measurement possible for each part, Nittoh uses high precision measuring instruments in a temperature-, humidity- and vibration-controlled measurement lab. We use dedicated measurement engineers in an independent division for our measurement evaluations.
For each prototype, our mold design engineers then verify the results of molded product measurements, and make any required mold repairs or corrections. By having our mold design engineers verify these results, we are providing feedback for manufacturing the next mold, and this process has enabled a stable mold manufacturing environment at Nittoh.
Manufacturing high precision molds and machining high precision parts for non-lens products
On top of being a professional manufacturer of lens molds, Nittoh also manufactures molds for high precision mechanism parts and cosmetic parts.
Molds for parts requiring high precision with internal cams, like lens barrels, are handled by Shoujoh Seiki, a Nittoh group company that specializes in internal sliding mechanisms.
Talk to Nittoh about your requirements, including the manufacture of jigs and tools, and the manufacture of high precision prototype parts like fixed lens barrels where machining is required when combining lenses.
4529 Konami, Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture 392-0131 Japan